Centrifugal separator



Aug. 13, 1929. J. BUCKBEE 1,724,254

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed April 11, 1928 lll Patented ug. 13, 1929.

U ITED STATES JOI-IN G. BUCKBEEOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to centrifugal separators, and more particularly to devices for separating materials of different specific gravities, such as the removal of liquid from solid i'naterials or the separation of liquids of different densities.

rllhe object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient separator capable of general utility for separating purposes, although more especially for industrial uses and in manufacturing or chen'iical processes involving the treating of fluid, semi-fluid or colloid substances.

A preferred embodiment of the invention f is disclosed in the accompanying drawing,

consisting of a single figure showing the separator' in vertical section.

In general, the separator consists of an inverted receptacle or casing 1 revolving` at high speed about a vertical axis, and into which the materials to be separated are introduced by gravity through openings or ports at top. 'lhe bottom of the easing is open to forni a relatively large opening for the heavier fluid, and above this opening is a separating disc or plate 2 revolving with the housing and acting to retain and dispose of the fluid of less density through sepa-v rate passages therein. l

it more detailed description of the device will now be set forth: The support for the rotative parts of the separator preferably has the form of a cylindric drum or housing 3, a short length of cast iron pipe section set on end being suitable for this purpose. lhe lower end of the housing' is open and its lower edge is flanged so that it can be bolted to any desired form of base or receptacle for the convenient handling of the materials dis` charged from the separator. The upper end of the drum is also flanged, and bolted over the top thereof is a plate d provided at its center with an opening through which the separator spindle 5 extends and is supported by a ball bearing 6. Mounted in the plate 4 is a bearing standard 7 of a frustro-coni cal shape, carrying at its upper end a bearing ring 8 and a bearing 9 concentric with the bearing 7 and likewise supporting the separator spindle adjacent its upper end.

rThe separator casing 1 revolves within the upper portion of the housing 3, being suspended at the lower end of the spindle 5 l journalled in the bearings o and 9 above.

The casing is preferably constructed in two 192e. sei-iai No. atenei.

sections, namely, an upper section l"L of bell shape and cast integral with the spindle, and a lower section lb forming the lower half of the casing, the two sections being flanged at their adjacent edges and bolted together, thus forming a chamber of spherical shape, somewhat .flattened in a vertical direction with the bottom of the lower section cut oit at right angles to the vertical axis to form the large discharge opening 10, of a diameter substantially one-half the maximum diane eter of the chamber.

The spindle 5 is tubular, its upper end extending a short distance above the upper bearing 9, and opening into the casing at its lower enc. A drive pulley 11 is keyed to the upper end of the spindle which is reduced in diameter. A lock ring 12 is threaded on the spindle above the pulley. rlhe spindle is shown as driven by a belt 13, on the pulley 10, although any other desired type of drive may be used.

lltntending the length of the spindle 19 is a tube or sleeve 111 fitting snugly therein and having its upper end projecting a short distance beyond the upper end of the spindle 5 and its lower end extendinginto the casing 1. This tube is normally held against endwise movement by a lock ring 15 engaging a threaded portion at the upper end of the tube, and carries at its lower end a solid stub shaft 16 extending axially of the casing and through the discharge opening 1() at its lower end, said stub-shaft being suitably secured as hy a pin 16a. Mounted on this stub shaft is the separating plate 2 which also includes as an integral part thereof, a distributing plate or iiange 17 above the separating plate. These plates are radial projections formed integral with a hub or sleeve 2f keyed to shaft 1G and held thereon by a nut 18 at the@ lower end of the shaft. The separating plate 2 is dish-shaped, its central portion being located substantially within the discharge opening 10 where the hub 22L is increased in diameter and flaring upwardly and outwardly following the contour of the lower section of the easing, its periphery being spaced inwardly from the sides of the easing at the middle or point of maximum dian'ieter. The upper surface of the separating disc thus forms a. shallow receptacle, and. its under surface forms with the leottom wall of the easing an annular passage 19 of uniform width connecting the infr.

space above the plate with the discharge opening 10, the entrance to this passage belng an annular slot 2O between the periphery of the plate and the adjacent wall of the cas- ,Y radial openings or ports 21 forming the insov dling the upper vend of the spindle.

let passage for the materials to be separated., and which are fed into the upper end of the tube through a funnel-like hopper 22 having a' tubular yextension or stem 22 extending downwardly to the inlet ports 21. The hopper is supported freely of t-he rotating spindle and tube by means of an arch-like bracket 23, mounted on the bearing plate 8 and strad- This bracket has a ring 23 in which the funnel 22 seats, its extension 22"t being of a. diameter toV clear the walls of the tube through which rit passes.

Grouped around the inner portion of the separator plate is a series of outlet ports or passages 24 extending axially downward through thehub portion 2LBL and open on the under side thereof; Surrounding the lower end of the hub vportion 2y is a receptacle 25 Vleading into a lateral deliver f tube or snout 25 leading olf at an angle through the side wall of the housing. This receptacle is stationary and receives the fluid discharged through the passages 24 from the space above the/sep arating plate.

The separating action is brought about in the following manner: The materials to be separated are fed into the device through the hopper-222 either continuously or intermittently. For the purpose of illustration, it may be assumed that the material being treatedis a mixture of solid materials in pulverized form and a liquid of a semi-fluid consistency', and that the purpose of the treatment is to reduce thefluidity, i. e., thicken the mix by removing an excess of the liquid. Asthe materialfis fed into the casing, the centrifugal force due to the high speed of rotationof the housing, throws the material outwardly toward the periphery of the housing,.with Yan attendant stratification of the ingredients according to their specilic gravities, theheavier or denser particles crowding to the outside, and the lighter or less dense substances forming vertical strata ranging inwardly from the stratum of the heaviest material. The outer stratum or strata of heavier materials, however, are free to pass downwardly beyondthe edge of the separating plate and lill the passage 19 leading to the discharge opening 10, as indicated by shading in the drawing. T he lighter matcrials, howeve are coniined within the space above the separating plate, and their only means of escape is, therefore, through the. passages 24, through the separating plate. Hence as more. materials are led into the casing, the heavier substancesl arer gradually forced down 'ardly and discharged through the opening 1t), while the, lighter materials are forced inwardly toward thc axis of rotation, the lightest and less solid substances innermost, until the action of gravity overcomes the centrifugal force and a downward `dow takes place through the passages 2l.

As long as fresh material is vi'ed to the casing, this action continues, duc tothe centri'tugal force acting to maintain the strata ot uniform thickness, and hence there is a continual overflow of the heavier materials through the discharge opening and dropping downwardly in order to restore the conditions of equilibrium in the strata, and a like constant overllow of the lighter materials through the. passages 2-1- and into the lead-oli' spout 25. The purpose of the distributing plate 1T is manifest from the foregoing, namely, to direct the incoming material ontvardly and prevent any of it from being carried or short-circuited direct to the discharge passages 24..

The saine action takes place regardless of the materials introduced. since it is based on the universal principle, of centrifugal force` although it may he necessary to shift the position of the separating plate within the casing when different. materials are treated. For this reason, the tube 1-lcarrying the separator plate may be shifted vertically endwise by adjusting the lock ring 15 at the upper end of the tube.

hlanifestly` 'arious departures in construction and design may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ol the invention. For instance, the separator may be designed with the moving parts rotating about a horizontal axis. Therefore, l do not wish to be limited to the particular type of machine disclosed except in so far as the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A centrifugal ,f-:eparator comprising a substantially spherical casing having a relatively large discharge oiiening at its bottoni and a hollow spindle extending vertically from its top, a bearing support. tor said spindle, means for driving said spindle, a tube extending through said spindle and into said casing, a4 separator plate mounted at the lower end of said tube and normally positioned at the bottom thereof' covering said discharge opening, a distributor plate located above said separator plate, said tube having inlet ports above said dising vertical passages therethrough adjacent its axis and opening through the discharge opening at the bottoni of said casing.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising a vertical spindle, a casing of substantially spherical shape mounted at the lower end of said spindle and having a relatively large outlet opening at its bottoni, a support for said spindle and casing, means tor driving said spindle, a tube itting in said spindle and extending into the top of said casing, a separator' plate mounted at the lower end of said tube and normally positioned above the bottoni thereof, ineans for adjusting said tube endwise in said spindle, said tube having lateral ports opening into the upper portion oit said casing, and said separating disc having a concave upper tace and a series of vertical passages adjacent the axis thereof, and a distributing plate integral with said separator plate and located between said inlet ports and said discharge passages in said separator plate.

3. A centrifugal separator comprising an inverted bowl-shaped receptacle mounted to rotate about a vertical axis and having a relatively large discharge opening at its bottoni, a separator plate mounted axially within said receptacle and rotative therewith, said plate consisting oi a hub and. a radial web spaced above the bottom of said receptacle, and iforlning a radial passage therebetween connecting the space above said web with said opening, said huh eX- tributor plate, and said separator plate havtending through said opening and having a separate discharge passage extending vertically from the space above said web.

4l. A centrifugal separator comprising an inverted bowl-shaped receptacle mounted to rotate about a vertical axis and having a downwardly facing opening, a hollow tube projerting axially into the upper portion ot said receptacle and connnunicatiug therewith, and a separator member consisting of a hub extending axially ot said receptacle and fixed to the lower end of said tube, a radial. web spaced above and extendingg beyond the opening in said receptacle to :torni a passage between said opening and. the space above said web, and vertical pa gcs through said hub adjacent the axis oit said receptacle.

5. A centri'lE 'gal separator comprising an inverted. bowl-like receptarle mounted to rotate about a vertical axis and having a .relatively sniall inlet opening at its top, a rf-ilatively large discharge opening at its bottoni, a separatrnnieniber extending axially ot said receptacle and including a hub, a radial web spaced above the bottoni wall and inwardly troni the internal periphery of said receptacle, and a plurality of vertical discharge passages through said web adjarent the .internal axis thereof, and a discharge spout below said receptacle and coniinunicatiug with said discharge passages.

Signed at Chicago, Ill., this 9th day of April, 1928.

JOHN C. BUCKBEE. 

